The award includes a gold medal, a citation and Rs one lakh. Earlier, Chairman of Lokmanya Tilak Trust Deepak Tilak had said, "Ahluwalia would be awarded on the death anniversary of the freedom fighter Balgangadhar Tilak whom the British described as the 'father of Indian unrest'". Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will be present on the occasion.

Ahuwalia who assumed the post in 2004, has also worked as an additional secretary to former premier Rajiv Gandhi between 1985 and 1990.